More hunting seasons are opening today. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is having their popular archery deer hunting season starting and it’s estimated that 60,000 hunters will be out. Also starting today is turkey season.

Andy Robbins with the DNR says the drought conditions have helped to increase the number of ground nesting birds including turkeys. He says these higher numbers should provide a better opportunity for area hunters.

The regulations in effect for hunters are:

Archery deer season: 10/01 – 11/30/12 and 12/17 – 01/10/13

Turkey: 10/01 – 11/30/12 and 12/17 – 01/10/13

All deer taken must be reported using the harvest reporting system by midnight the day after the deer is recovered. Accurately reporting the kill is an important part of Iowa’s deer management program and plays a vital role in managing deer populations and future hunting opportunities. Hunters can report their deer on the DNR website: www.iowadnr.gov[1], by calling the toll free reporting number 1-800-771-4692[2], or at any license vendor. For hunters with Internet access, the online reporting of your harvest is the easiest way to register your deer.

Fall turkey hunting has similar shotgun and bow hunting regulations, with the exception that in the fall, hunters may harvest a bird of either sex. In the spring, it’s bearded bird only. Rifles and muzzleloading rifles are not allowed and shotguns must be between 10-gauge to 20-gauge. Bow hunters are under the same broad-head restrictions for turkey as they are for deer. Harvest must be reported through the harvest reporting system by midnight of the day the bird is recovered.